The 2021 Ford F-150 strives to be all things to all people — at least to those who can fit a full-size pickup in their garage.
From mild to wild, the Ford F-150 lineup begins with $30,000 work-oriented, just-the-basics models. It skyrockets from there through pickups that add serious capability on- and off-road, sip fuel, pamper better than business class, and even look great.
Here is a look at this year’s Ford F-150 features.
There’s only one full-hybrid pickup on the market, and it’s the F-150. Sure, it can be thrifty in town. It happily motors (electrically) in low-load situations without using a drop of fuel. But there’s a lot more to this hybrid pickup than fuel economy.
The F-150 can double as a generator capable of running tools at a job site. At the same time, the hybrid version offers an even more powerful setup that can put out an astounding 7,200 watts of electricity thanks to its 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery.
Buyers can add the generator to any F-150 aside from those with the base 3.3-liter V6. In non-hybrid versions, the setup includes a pair of 120-volt, 20-amp household-style outlets. The outlets turn on from the infotainment system. With 2,000 watts to play with, you can charge or operate most power tools.
Meanwhile, an optional upgrade for the F-150 Hybrid doubles the number of outlets and adds a 240-watt twist-lock outlet. Owners unexpectedly put this generator to the test during a recent unprecedented winter storm that toppled Texas’ power grid. Some F-150 Hybrid drivers were able to keep their refrigerators and HVAC systems operational thanks to their trucks.
These trucks can also recharge devices as big as an electric all-terrain vehicle while on the go, meaning outdoorsy types can charge up on the way to the trail.
Drivers can control the system through a mobile phone app as long as the device is close enough to the vehicle’s Wi-Fi antenna.
The F-150 is thoroughly job-rated in any form, thanks to a slew of details. The tailgate — which is power-folding in higher-spec versions — can feature convenient holsters for pens and mobile devices. It also boasts a built-in ruler and even has grips to allow users to clamp down pieces of wood for cutting.
An optional Work Surface center console is available on every trim level. Users can fold it forward to create an extended, flat workspace. It’s perfect for a laptop and a notebook, or it can work as a lunch table while on the go. The trunk bed even features a built-in bottle opener when you desire a fizzy beverage with lunch or whenever.
And the F-150’s infotainment system includes a Wi-Fi antenna and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to help drivers stay connected while on the go. Should all this prove a little too much to remember? No problem.
The infotainment system hosts a digital and searchable version of the truck’s owner’s manual. Over-the-air updates to the infotainment system also ensure that each F-150 stays up-to-date.
When you finish with work, you can tilt the Max Recline front seats optional on high-end King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trucks to almost 180 degrees. The tilt allows front-seat occupants to catch a little shut-eye. If all you need is a little relaxation while on the go, those seats are massaging, heated, and cooled, too.
Buyers can purchase all but the base work trucks with B&O audio systems that include as many as 18 speakers. Lariat and higher trim levels toss in a total of 18 speakers. It consists of some mounted in the headliner and others tucked into the front-seat headrests.
You may not have a locking storage bin in your living room, but you might have a safe in your basement or bedroom. The F-150 offers them tucked under the rear seats. That way, you can keep valuables hidden from sight and out of the hands of others in case other drivers share your F-150s.
The F-150 is rated to lug as much as 14,000 pounds when properly equipped, and just about every version tops 10,000 pounds. But there’s a lot more to the F-150’s towing numbers than those ratings.
Standard fare includes trailer sway control that helps prevent trailers from swinging around and a tow/haul mode that tells the automatic transmission it is time to get down to business. Also, the backup camera knows when a trailer is attached and can display guidelines accordingly.
Backing up a trailer is a constant battle for many drivers. It can be a challenge to train our brains that a trailer moves in the opposite direction as the steering wheel when in reverse. The optional Pro Trailer Backup Assist program can take over the reins, literally. Tap the dash button, and drivers can steer the truck from a dash knob. Turn the knob to the left, and the system knows you want to turn the trailer to the left, for instance. The design makes backing up a trailer a cinch. The real party trick is not telling your friends that you have the system the next time you’re backing your boat down a ramp.
While not as critical for towing, buyers can purchase the F-150 with the Active Drive Assist Prep Kit, which prepares the truck for a host of hands-free driving features expected in the future. Ordering the package will allow owners to upgrade their vehicles to systems that can drive without human intervention on select pre-mapped divided highways. All the driver needs to do is be alert, but they can take their hands off the steering wheel.
Even by full-size pickup standards, the F-150 features lineup is extensive, and so is the model lineup. For those who need the basics — as if you can call a modern pickup with an 8-inch touchscreen, collision-avoidance tech, and a Wi-Fi antenna basic — the lineup starts at under $30,000.
Families looking for a do-it-all vehicle can step up to the SuperCrew, a 4-door truck with a choice of bed sizes. With the popular XLT trim level that tosses in some stylish bits and more comfortable interior trim, the F-150 runs about $42,000.
From there, the lineup gets even more interesting. Lariats are well-equipped, while western-style King Ranch and tony Platinum editions come loaded with genuine luxury car-grade features. Meanwhile, the decadent Limited looks as though it could have come from a German luxury car manufacturer.
Ford offers a slew of engine choices from a basic 3.3-liter V6 through turbocharged V6s, a turbodiesel, a hybrid, and a V8.
Soon to come is the new F-150 Raptor, a dedicated off-road pickup with a proper off-road suspension with Fox internal bypass shocks and coil springs, massive 37-inch tires, and even more power. A V8 version of the Raptor is set to follow, too.
And, if you’re in law enforcement — or if you’re perhaps a little too prone to exceeding the speed limit — look out for the new F-150 Police Responder. This version comes explicitly tweaked to be a cop truck.
Find out what the fair market range will be and what you can expect to pay for your favorite Ford F-150 with features you choose. Then, when you’re ready to buy your pickup truck, use our online dealer price quote tool to get the best offer from dealerships near you.
